A golf ball doesn’t know a lot of things, and most certainly not the hitter’s age.
As time goes on, age becomes just a number.
And at the PGA Championship, we’ve seen plenty of fabulous performances by golfers who haven’t let their age get in the way of a great finish.
Here are five memorable results by golfers over 40 years old.
Lee Trevino – 1984
After four rounds in the 60s, Lee Trevino notched his second PGA Championship title and sixth (and final) major title. Trevino was tied for the lead through 36 holes and had a one-shot advantage after Saturday’s third round. His final-round 69 left him at 15 under for the championship, a record for most under-par at the time (it would be broken by Steve Elkington in 1995). Trevino was 44 years, 8 months, and 18 days old when he won.
Trevino’s victory came over Gary Player, who at 48 was gunning to become the oldest major winner ever.
Vijay Singh – 2004
It wasn’t just Vijay Singh’s PGA Championship victory that was impressive in 2004. Singh, who won the Wanamaker Trophy at 41 years, 5 months, and 24 days old, also won seven(!) other times that year and ascended to No.1 in the world.
He emerged victorious from a three-man playoff with Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard to win the 2004 PGA Championship, held at Whistling Straits, despite shooting a 4-over 76 on Sunday.
Jack Nicklaus – 1980
Jack Nicklaus did not win a PGA Tour title in 1979, the first time that happened in his career, but he came out with a bang in 1980 winning the U.S. Open before capturing the PGA Championship at Oak Hill later that summer.
It was Nicklaus’ fifth PGA Championship triumph, and it came just after The Golden Bear turned 40 (he was 40 years, 6 months, and 20 days old when he won). Nicklaus fired a final-round 69 to finish at 6 under for the championship.
He was the only golfer to end up under-par for the week and won by seven over Andy Bean.
Julius Boros – 1968
The 50th PGA Championship was held at Pecan Valley Golf Club and won by Julius Boros who captured the third of his three major championships. However, this one was extra special – at 48 years, 4 months, and 18 days old Boros became the oldest-ever major championship winner.
Boros topped Arnold Palmer (who notched his second of three runner-up results at the PGA Championship) and no golfer finished under-par that week. Boros, at 1 over, won by one.
Phil Mickelson – 2021
Julius Boros’ record stood for more than 40 years before Phil Mickelson re-wrote the history books at last year’s PGA Championship at Kiawah Island.
Mickelson won his second Wanamaker Trophy at 50 years, 11 months, 7 days old to become the oldest major winner in history. He began the final round with a one-shot lead over Brooks Koepka (himself a two-time PGA Champion) and topped Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen by two shots.
Honorable Mention
Tiger Woods – 2018
Although he didn’t win, the 42-year-old Tiger Woods fired a 64 on Sunday at Bellerive Country Club (his best-ever final round at a major championship) and fell just two shots shy of Brooks Koepka’s PGA Championship-winning total. Woods, a four-time winner of the PGA Championship, shot 196 (rounds of 66-66-65) over his final three rounds. That marked his lowest score across 54 holes in any major of his career, according to golf statistician Justin Ray, by four shots.
